Mothers' Day: A late tribute.

I have this serious question, how many mothers’ days are there in a year? I feel there are more than 10. There is definitely only one father’s day in the year with no brothers or sisters days. I was hoping that people could use yesterday’s day to contemplate on why there is a huge disparity in the number of mothers’ days and fathers’ day. I was wrong. It was the same old. There mass media was as usual using it to lure you to spend more as a way of showing your mom the appreciation she merits. For a mother, I feel that it is not the best way of showing your gratitude. Maybe it is appropriate for the girlfriend. I call the latter ‘the guzzlers’.

Yesterday my alarm woke me up at 10 am. I do not trust myself to wake up at all without an alarm. I took the next 30 minutes, gazing at the ceiling, in silence, thinking about my mum. I concluded that words cannot do justice in describing how incredible she is. And that’s how I declined the thought of writing a post about her. I however changed my mind today.

I am one of the people who subscribes to this controversial school of thought. A human being shall not be accorded full respect from the society until he/she raises a kid to adulthood. The trials and tribulations that a son/daughter makes a parent to go through and the way they handle them are the defining moments of parenthood. Once a child matures into a successful adult, he/she transforms into a plaque that the parents adore and show off to the peers. The father will always brag about how he sold all his cows to take you through school, how you crashed all exams and how you got that big ass office job in the city. The mother will brag about the mature adult you turned out to be. She will sit with her friend as she recounts how you transformed from a mucus licking brat into a handsome/beautiful adult with a level headed spouse. Mothers are more proud of your general behavior than the size of your bank account.

I aint a mama but I can relate to the expectations that my mum has of me. Whenever I have a chat with my parents, I always get the small variation in the pieces of advice that they churn out to me. He goes for the be-prepared-for-the-future card. Avoid extravagance, save as much as possible. Work hard at work and look out for any better job offers. She always goes overboard telling me about upholding my behavior, avoiding bad company, respecting my peers and praying daily. I know there is no gift however immense, however pricey that can make her more proud of me than upholding these qualities. That’s why I was saying using mothers’ day to buy your mum that dress is not the best present that you can get her. You should use such a day to reflect on your life, ask yourself whether your mum is happy with your way of life, do you still respect her? Do you listen to them still…or they are now too old? The best present that you can get her is living that life that she envisioned you to live as you were screaming for her breast, years ago.

Despite all the questioning I have for the number of mothers’ days in the year, they deserve them all, and more. I might not be able to get the experience firsthand but I know mothers go through a lot of trouble to raise a kid. The 9 months of carrying you are so hard, they have to go through mood swings because of you, they visit the toilet after every two minutes because of you, they stop getting hit on by strangers because of you. They deserve to be celebrated in a major way. All mothers should be assembled and given a tour to the moon or something, so that they go floating for an hour or so, just smiling or screaming with joy, not worrying about their children or husbands. Others are single mothers. They should be celebrated the more. Mentally, they are the strongest. They got through a lot of problems, yet they overcome.  

This is the point where I unleash one or two words about my mum. Just like yesterday, I am yet to find the words to express what she is to me. Flawless. That word comes closest in describing her character. I have no recollection of her messing something up. Or making any mistake. I have never seen her quarrel with anybody. She has no enemy. I have never seen her turn anybody away from our home. She is a hard worker, running our home like a selfish bully. She doesn’t require anybody’s help in running it. She doesn’t have a daughter; I have never heard her complain that she is overwhelmed by the four men she has in her life. We really suffer when she is not around though.

There is this theory that is floating around that men always choose spouse with characteristics similar to their mothers. I am sorry to say that it is so very true in my case. Humble. That is what she is. Pride is never her thing. If you are an undisputed loudmouth, so sorry we will never work out. I have just realized I can go on and on about her and I shall not finish. Stuff I’d rather keep with me as I smile and think about being one of the three who are blessed with the honor of having the best mother in the world. I believe she is the closest to that lady described in Proverbs 31.

As I mark my late mothers’ day, I thank God for the gift of her. I pray that she shall be granted a long and fulfilling life. Through her, I know that my family always receives His blessings. Esther is her name.

This goes to all mothers out there. We love you and appreciate all that you have done to us.

I chose all the songs in my laptop talking about mothers for my boom box playlist. Go ahead and enjoy.

Boom box playlist:

·         Mama knows best – Jessie J

·         Dear mama – Tupac

·         Hey mama – Kanye west

·         A song for mama – Boyz II men

·         Mama’s worst nightmare – Bruno mars

·         Stacy’s Mom – Fountain of Wayne

·         She got it from her mama – Juvenile

·         Baby mama – Fantasia

·         Mama Lusiya – Khadija Nin

·         Mama Africa – Akon

·         Sweet mama- Papa Shange

·         Mobimba ya mama – Awilo Longoma

·         Mama we – Ukoo Flani  

·         Mama – Spice girls